him . . .” She motioned to the rabbi’s remains and the Israeli’s eyes followed. “Can you imagine what might have happened?”
“I suppose.” Slouching on the railing, Amit momentarily transfixed
on the Ark. Did Cohen really believe that by returning the legendary
relic to the Foundation Stone he’d invoke God’s retribution upon the
Muslims? Did he expect legions of angels to come liberate Zion? Then
again, what if Cohen
chill come over him.
He knew the maelstrom had only just begun.
92
******
Amit and Enoch immediately collected the weapons from the two dead Palestinians and Cohen’s six guards and piled them in a faraway corner. Confirming that the seven robed men were all immobile and posed no threat (thanks to Enoch’s crafty shooting), they tossed their own weapons on the pile too. Then they sat beside Charlotte, in clear view of the shrine’s open doorway.
“Best to raise our hands so they don’t confuse us with the bad guys,”
Enoch suggested.
They all raised their hands high.
A minute later, the rover bot came treading over the threshold and
squeaked to a stop three meters from the door. Its camera arm telescoped out and panned side to side, then settled on the three survivors.
“Wave hello,” Enoch said. He waved and flashed a thumbs-up. Then he loudly reported his name and rank for the bot’s microphone. “All clear in here,” he added.
Within seconds, soldiers began funneling into the shrine with weapons drawn, fanning out along the ambulatory.
“Just don’t touch that big gold box over there!” Amit yelled to them as they passed by.
Charlotte conveyed instructions to the Israeli commanders on how Cohen’s men had safely covered and transported the Ark. Then Amit assisted her out of the shrine, holding her by the arm.
Amit was still buzzing with excitement. This night had far and away surpassed the raw excitement of any raid in Gaza. And having beheld firsthand the Ark of the Covenant was the ultimate archaeological dream come true.
The scene outside was chaotic: helicopters set down on the Dome of the Rock’s raised platform and Israeli troops as far as the eye could see. And Enoch was at the center of it all, taking quick drags on a bummed cigarette between sentences. Encircled by IDF commanders, he was recounting in great detail what had transpired inside the dome.
Charlotte looked up at Amit. “Do you really believe that’s the Ark of the Covenant in there?”
The question surprised Amit. “You saw what it did to Cohen. Absolutely, I’d say it’s the real thing.”
“And how about me being a messiah?” she jested.
He paused to consider this. “Rabbi Cohen might have been a bit crazy. But if
“Hey!” a female voice yelled over to Amit.
Glancing up, Amit was surprised to see Jules tottering over to him, shirt tied below her chest and clutching a bandage taped to her left side. Grinning widely, he stopped in his tracks.
“What is this?” Jules said with pretend offense. “I’m gone only an hour and you’re already in the arms of another woman? Haven’t you learned your lesson?”
Amit shook his head. “You’ve got chutzpah, I’ll give you that.”
Jules threw her arms around him and held him tight for five seconds. “God, I was worried sick about you.”
“How did you— ?”
“The police got to me before the ambulance arrived. When I told them what happened, they were kind enough to share their first aid kit and give me a ride here.”
“Good to see that chivalry is still alive and well,” Amit said.
“After all you told me about the temple and the Ark, I knew they’d find you here.”
“Clever.”
“Thanks.”
Amit formally introduced Charlotte.
Jules had been so focused on Amit that she hadn’t noticed the woman’s neck was covered in blood. Alarmed, she said, “My goodness, Charlotte . . . Are you all right?” Gently cradling Charlotte’s chin, she tried to find the wound. “Is this your blood?”
“Yes, but—”
“Where are you hurt? We need to take care of this.”
